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Four killed, 38 injured by mortar attack in Iraq

BAGHDAD: Iraq said on Wednesday four people were killed and 38 wounded by a mortar attack on a residential building in Baghdad and blamed Iran for the assault.

"Agents of the Iranian regime yesterday evening fired six mortar bombs at a residential building in Baghdad inhabited by Iraqis and Arabs, and the attack led to the martyrdom of an Iraqi and three Arabs and the injury of 38 others," the Iraqi news agency INA quoted a security spokesman as saying. The spokesman said Iraq held the Iranian government responsible for the attack and considered it "a flagrant aggression against its security and sovereignty".

He also said that Iraq "reserves the right to take suitable action" in response.

On Monday Iraq's most influential newspaper, Babel, warned Iran against any attack on its territory and accused U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright of encouraging Tehran to commit "aggression" against Baghdad.

Tension between the two neighbours, at war from 1980 to 1988, has escalated in the last few weeks over cross-border attacks by the Iraq-based Mujahideen Khalq, the main exiled Iranian opposition group.The spokesman said Iraq held the Iranian government responsible for the attack and considered it "a flagrant aggression against its security and sovereignty".

He also said that Iraq "reserves the right to take suitable action" in response.

On Monday Iraq's most influential newspaper, Babel, warned Iran against any attack on its territory and accused U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright of encouraging Tehran to commit "aggression" against Baghdad.

Tension between the two neighbours, at war from 1980 to 1988, has escalated in the last few weeks over cross-border attacks by the Iraq-based Mujahideen Khalq, the main exiled Iranian opposition group.-Reuters